STAYCATIONS: Agritourism on a Philippine Island
- Henrylito D. Tacio
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
Bukidnon is the largest province in Mindanao, Philippines, in terms of total area of jurisdiction. It ranks third in the whole country, after Palawan and Isabela.
Bukinon, which means “highlander” or “mountain dweller,” occupies a wide plateau in the north-central part of Mindanao, cultivated with mostly rice and corn, as well as pineapples, bananas, and sugarcane, thus earning the moniker, “The Food Basket of the Region.”
If you fly into Davao Airport and travel toward Bukidnon, the first town you will enter is Kitaotao, which is part of the Maramag district.
There are several tourist destinations in this place, but if you are interested in farming, I recommend The Taglucop Strawberry Hills and The Happy Farm.
Just like La Trinidad Valley in Benguet, this place has a cold climate and gets foggy at night. It is a cool place to escape to from the blazing temperature of the city, particularly during the summer months. It overlooks the panoramic Arakan mountain range; unlike the well-known Baguio in the North, which is now covered with buildings and houses, this one in the South is filled with lush trees.
In fact, people from this part of Mindanao do not need to go elsewhere to experience strawberry-picking. They just go to Taglucop Strawberry Hills, located in Barangay Lorega.
So, by the invitation of the owner, Atty. Ferdinand Taglucop, I, along with a companion, ventured toward Taglucop Strawberry Hills via a 2½-hour bus ride from the Ecoland Terminal in Davao City.
We then had to walk about 100 meters toward Taglucop Strawberry Hills. When we reached the front desk, we were asked to only make a P1,000 ($17) deposit for the key to our room, since we were invited by the owner, himself.
After paying the deposit, the front desk attendant ushered us to the receiving area-cum-restaurant, where we had to leave our footwear before entering.
According to the owner, they do not want the floor of the restaurant to get dirty with mud, as the mud gets attached to the bottom of the footwear. No one is exempted; even the owners themselves must follow the rule.
So on our bare feet, we walked to our chosen dining spot and were then served with a complementary grazing platter, composed of grapes, orange cuts, chips, cheese, strawberry jam and a glass of either strawberry wine or juice.
After our meal, we were shown around the farm where they cultivate crops, such as grapes, mulberries, mushrooms, lettuce, and tomatoes, among others.
While there is a designated plot for strawberry-picking, there are also a few strawberry bushes below the restaurant, where you can handpick.
Accommodation in the Taglucop Strawberry Hills is either the Tiny House Loft or the Glamping Tent.
A portmanteau of “glamorous” and “camping,” Glamping is a style of camping with amenities. In simpler terms, it is sort of a resort-style service not usually associated with “traditional” camping.
The rate per night includes welcome drinks, complimentary breakfast for the maximum capacity of every room, which is four people, and pool access.
For us, we stayed in one of the geodesic dome “Glamping” tents that were hovering on the slopes of a hill amid a breathtaking scenery of lush pine groves. These marvelous tents have all the comforts you would long for: electricity, cushy beds, a shower with hot-and-cold shower, and an outdoor Jacuzzi.
In the morning, you can go strawberry picking at the 1.5-hectare strawberry farm. Or, you may opt to rent an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and drive all the way to the place where an unnamed waterfall is located. This entails parking the ATV and walking 300-meters away to the refreshing waterfall.
To pick strawberries, you need to contact the management first, as they cannot cater to all requests because they don’t want many people picking at the same time, lest the strawberry bushes get trampled upon.
About five kilometers away, still within barangay Lorega is The Happy Farm.
In February 2020, Atty. Edwaldo Legaspina, “Basti,” as his friends called him, started developing the farm.
“Initially, we just wanted to plant vegetables and strawberries,” he recalled. “But when the Covid pandemic struck, we decided to build a home where the kids can roam around, free from any fear of virus transmission.”
Aside from building a home for his family, he also started developing the farm. “Farming takes away your stress,” he said. “We also want our kids to engage so they may know the value in growing their own food.”
As the farm was being developed, the idea to build cottages came into fruition. He talked about his plan to his wife, who, in turn, fully supported him. “We wanted to share (our farm) with friends and family members so that they and their kids can also enjoy the cold breeze and picturesque view of the place,” he said.
Most people really give a lot of time thinking about what they would call their farm – something that will stick with people when they hear the name. Basti had no problem creating such a name. Thanks to his two children.
“Our kids chose the name,” he said. “When we asked why, they answered that they are so happy whenever they stay on the farm.”
Two years later, The Happy Farm was transformed into a new haven. But it was easier said than done. “When we started, the road couldn’t accommodate trucks for the construction,” he recalled. “The pandemic also limited our mobility. Luckily, we were able to hurdle these obstacles.”
It was his brother-in-law, whom he calls Hunter, who helped build the cottages. The first one is named the House on the Hill, a family house that can accommodate six to seven people onto two double-deck beds.
All of their cottages have its own fully-equipped kitchen, so that occupants can cook their own meals in private.
“My brother-in-law helped us (in making these cottages),” he says. “We pooled in ideas, and since the family is in the construction field, they realized it. My father-in-law, Juanito, took charge of our water system.”
The good thing about The Happy Farm is that families who stay in one of the cottages can harvest whatever readily available there are. Among the vegetables grown in the farm are tomatoes, eggplants, lettuce, bokchoy, alugbati, tinangkong, and sweet pepper. They can also pick strawberries.
“Right now, we have various crops so guests can do vegetable picking with their kids and bring it home,” he says. Of course, they have to pay for what they harvested, but it’s the bonding while harvesting that matters.
Guests who may opt not to cook their meals can always order food from Hungry Huntley’s Restaurant, which is just below the House in the Hill. The name came from the names of the two children: Edwald Hunter and Elda Huntley.
“As you have observed, our paintings are aimed to please the kids,” Basti says.
On the far end, there is a coffee shop-cum-bar, where parents can hang out and have some coffee or drink some wine and beers.
Basti says he wants to add five more cottages within the 4.5-hectare area. “We want to promote what Lorega can offer to people who come to this place,” he says. “We also want to promote tourism in the place because we have grown to love it.”
Most lawyers turn to farming when they get old. But Basti is different; even at a young age, he was already farming. Thanks to his father, Dodie, who educated him about farming when he was still a little boy.
“My father didn’t push me to become a farmer. I was in love with farming,” he pointed out. “I love farming because I love to touch the soil. I love how a plant grows. I am amazed by those.”
So if you are thinking to visit these places, you may visit their Facebook pages first to get in touch with them.
